UNBREAKABLE RED SONJA #5, from Dynamite Comics on March 29th, 2023, concludes the fight against a witch attempting to rewrite Time and destroy the gods to become the ultimate ruler of reality.
The Details
- Written by: Jim Zub
- Art by: Adrian M. Garcia
- Colors by: Francesco Segala, Agnese Pozza
- Letters by: Taylor Esposito
- Cover art by: Lucio Parrillo (cover A)
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: March 29, 2023
Is It Good?
Give credit to Jim Zub. UNBREAKABLE RED SONJA #5 ends the mini-series much stronger than it started. Considering the ethereal nature of alternate timelines and shifting realities, Zub does his level best to deliver a clean, satisfying finale.
When last we left Red Sonja, she awoke in her childhood home before devastating violence set her on a path to becoming the She-Devil with a Sword. Now, Red Sonja cycles through multiple versions of her origin story before a familiar power breaks the cycle and enables a showdown against Tendra.
That description might scare you into thinking this issue is a bunch of confusing, timey-wimey nonsense, but Zub’s remarkably good narration and easy-to-follow scene transitions keep it all straight. Zub’s dialog is on-point, Red Sonja’s method of escape from Tendra’s time trap makes sense, and the resolution puts all the toys neatly back in the toy box while leaving the lid open for more adventure.
In every practical sense, this is a clean, clear, reasonably satisfying conclusion to a story whose consistent down point is a lack of clarity surrounding the villain, Tendra. If her motivations and objectives were spelled out in the beginning rather than waiting for the penultimate issue, this series would have been better received.
Garcia’s artwork delivers everything you would want to see in a Red Sonja finale. The action is hard-hitting, dark shadows add weight and drama where needed, the final battle feels climactic, and the ending panels are cinematic in style and composition.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our UNBREAKABLE RED SONJA #4 review to find out how Red Sonja wound up back “home.”
We begin with Red Sonja confusingly starting her day helping her mother when her father and brothers return with spoils from their hunt. Red Sonja can’t resist playing the part of the child she was, even when her mind knows this is an illusion. Soon, the marauders come to end her family in bloodshed.
Suddenly, the childhood scene starts over with different details but the same ending. The scene keeps repeating until Red Sonja hears a voice imploring her to wake up. The voice grows louder and louder through each loop until the bright light of Scathach breaks the spell.
We conclude the issue with a battle in the middle of nowhere, immortal power with mortal motivations, and an imperfect future.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
(Click this link 👇 to order this comic)
UNBREAKABLE RED SONJA #5 ends the series much stronger than it started with time loops, surprise twists, and a climactic battle against a pretend god. For all the alternate timelines and realities, this issue is a surprisingly clear read, and the art is on-point.
We hope you found this article interesting. Come back for more reviews, previews, and opinions on comics, and don’t forget to follow us on social media:
If you’re interested in this creator’s works, remember to let your Local Comic Shop know to find more of their work for you. They would appreciate the call, and so would we.
Click here to find your Local Comic Shop: www.ComicShopLocator.com
As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases to help fund this site. Links to Blu-Rays, DVDs, Books, Movies, and more contained in this article are affiliate links. Please consider purchasing if you find something interesting, and thank you for your support.